Maryland and Virginia will be eligible for up to $10-million each to assist watermen who have been economically hurt by the commercial fishery failure in the Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab industry. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the federal money will help watermen who have been hit hard by a 41-percent decline in the soft shell and peeler crab fishery since the late 1990s. NOAA says it is pleased that Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine say they would like to use some of the funding to restore the blue crab habitat and create more diverse economic opportunities for watermen, possibly in aquaculture. The states will now submit plans outlining how the funds will be used.